Centaure (rocket)

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Centaure
Centaure.jpeg
Centaur rocket
Country of originFrance [1]
Applicationhigh altitude research
sounding rocket [2]

Centaure was a two-stage French sounding rocket consisting of a Venus first stage and a Belier second stage. [3] [4] [5] It belongs to a family of solid-propellant rockets consisting of the Belier, Centaure, Dragon, Dauphin, and Eridan. [4] [5]

Contents

Sud-Aviation Belier rockets evolution Sudav-belier-family.gif
Sud-Aviation Belier rockets evolution

It was operated by Sud-Aviation between 1961 and 1986. [3] [5] [6] Centaure rockets were launched from the CIEES/Hammaguir missile range, Reggane, CELPA, Salto di Quirra, Esrange, Thumba, Sonmiani, and Andøya. [5]

It had a maximum payload of 60 kg, an apogee of 130-146 km, [5] a launch thrust of 44 kN, a launch weight of 500-600 kg, a diameter of 0.28 m and a length of 5.9-6.3 m.

Versions

There were various versions of Centaure rockets: [4] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

VersionStagesGross mass (kg)Height (m)Diameter (m)Apogee (km)
CentaureVenus + Belier4576.020.28140
Centaure 1Venus + Belier6005.90.28130
Centaure 2AVenus + Belier II6005.90.28146
Centaure 2BVenus + Belier II5006.30.28146
Centaure 2CVenus + Belier II6005.90.28146

Launches

A large number of Centaure rockets was launched between 1961 and 1986: [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (1965). Semiannual Report to the Congress. The Administration.
  2. ↑ STAR. NASA, Office of Scientific and Technical Information. 1967.
  3. 1 2 "Fusées-sondes Bélier, Centaure et Éridan | musée des Arts et Métiers". www.arts-et-metiers.net (in French). Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  4. 1 2 3 "Centaure". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Wade, Mark. "Centaure". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  6. 1 2 3 "Centaure". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  7. 1 2 "Centaure 1". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  8. 1 2 "Centaure 2A". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  9. 1 2 "Centaure 2B". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  10. 1 2 "Centaure 2C". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
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